The Mount of Doville

Starting from the village of Doville, this half-day hike offers exceptional views of the mountains, marshes and Channel Islands, punctuated by passages through wooded paths and a large plateau of bare moorland populated by gorse.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.57 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 512 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 538 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 420 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 20 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Cotentin
  • ⚐ City: Doville (50250)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 49.331799° / W 1.539755°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1211E, 1211OT, 1212ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Park in the car park opposite Doville church.
Followthe yellow markings.

(S/E) Cross the main road at the pedestrian crossing and continue along the road opposite, which runs alongside the cemetery. First turn right then left to cross the D137, turn right to pass through the hamlet of Haut, then turn left onto the first path. You will arrive at a road opposite the Marais de la Sangsurière and Marais de l'Adriennerie.

(1) Turn left and follow this road which runs alongside the marsh.

(2) Cross the hamlet of Noguet and continue along the path that leads to the edge of the marsh. Leave the marsh to reach a road.

(3) Take this road, pass L'Angerie and then Le Bos, and cross the D127.

(4) Continue along the path opposite, which goes around Mont de Doville.

(5) Take the path that climbs up to the left.

(6) After climbing up to the plateau, you will see the old windmill. Descend to the right.

(7) A few hundred metres further on, still on the plateau, you will see the ruins of the old guardhouse of Mont de Doville. Continue your descent to reach the Chapelle Saint-Martin and its hundred-year-old yew tree.

(8) Turn right, then left until you reach a road.

(9) Cross the Route de la Chapelle du Mont, the only access to the car park, then take the wooded path opposite and continue north to the Route du Bas du Mont.

(10) Turn right at a place called La Benoisterie, then turn slightly left onto a farm track.

(11) At the junction with Route Saint-Martin, turn right and follow it for about 200 metres, then turn left towards Rivière du Buisson, where you will find the Moulin Renault.

(12) Turn left to the north-east and follow Chemin du Parc, which will take you back across the river to Route de la Cuiroterie.

(13) Take this road on the right for 70 metres, then turn left onto Rue de la Vigne to return to your starting point 250 metres further on (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 98 ft - Car park - Église Saint-Martin (Doville)
  2. 1 : mi 0.82 - alt. 43 ft - Road facing the marsh
  3. 2 : mi 1.9 - alt. 102 ft - Place known as Noguet
  4. 3 : mi 2.69 - alt. 112 ft - Route
  5. 4 : mi 3.14 - alt. 174 ft - Route D127
  6. 5 : mi 4.06 - alt. 243 ft - Fork towards the summit
  7. 6 : mi 4.58 - alt. 420 ft - Old windmill
  8. 7 : mi 4.82 - alt. 400 ft - Former guardhouse
  9. 8 : mi 5.07 - alt. 289 ft - Chapelle Saint-Martin (Doville)
  10. 9 : mi 5.37 - alt. 194 ft - Route de la Chapelle du Mont
  11. 10 : mi 5.85 - alt. 125 ft - La Benoisterie
  12. 11 : mi 6.26 - alt. 105 ft - Saint-Martin Road
  13. 12 : mi 6.62 - alt. 62 ft - The Renault Mill
  14. 13 : mi 7.35 - alt. 72 ft - La Cuiroterie
  15. S/E : mi 7.57 - alt. 98 ft - Car park - Église Saint-Martin (Doville)

Worth a visit

Marais de la Sangsurière et de l'Adriennerie: this national nature reserve preserves the ecological value of 396 hectares of remarkable peat bog. The peaty soil allows an exceptional flora of 230 botanical species to flourish, including orchids and small carnivorous plants.

Former guardhouse of Mont de Doville: this military building, constructed in the 17th century, was once used to monitor the Cotentin coastline against the English from neighbouring islands, France's historical enemies. This is why the building has large windows opening onto the sea.

Chapel of Saint Martin: this building corresponds to the choir of the former parish church. Since the 19th century, it has been converted into a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame de Bon-Secours. This chapel is inseparable from its yew tree, which has the unusual feature of having a burnt interior trunk. This isolated place is surrounded by legends and stories of witchcraft.

Moulin Renault: located on the Buisson River, near the village of Doville, it is one of twenty water mills in the Gorget basin. Today, the river and the meadow surrounding it serve mainly as a reservoir of biodiversity where moisture-loving flora and fauna live in peace.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 10268290

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did it in both directions and honestly preferred the route in the opposite direction, with magnificent views of La Haye du Puits and the sea to the west.
Enjoy your hike.

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randonnee76
randonnee76

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty, varied route with magnificent views. A restored mill and an open chapel (rare) that are well worth visiting, and finally Japanese stepping stones to cross the stream.

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rAoule66
rAoule66

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk that has already been covered outside of Visorando.
The first part is a bit tedious as it is on tarmac roads.
However, the rest of the hike is really enjoyable and beautiful once you reach Mount Doville!😊
Of course, given the time of year, the paths, like everywhere else, were very muddy and sometimes even turned into small rivers, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment ☺️
Thank you for this lovely walk under the beautiful January sun!😊

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Lebar
Lebar

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A route without any major difficulties.
Very pleasant, superb views of the marshes and the west coast of the Cotentin Peninsula.

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Polprika
Polprika

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, varied landscapes, varied and pleasant passages, a good time.
More like 3½ hours than 3 hours 55 minutes.

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Ben 0562
Ben 0562

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Congratulations on the "perfect" signposting! And for the cultural and historical interest and magnificent views along this walk...
Please note, however, that point 12 cannot be crossed when the Buisson River is in flood...! Just a few hundred metres back to point 11 and take the Cuiroterie path to find point 13!

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Régis 50
Régis 50

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in the land of wizards, not difficult, not many people.

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Pauline14456
Pauline14456
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I didn't use the description, because I can't read French that well. I loaded the GPX file into Google Maps and it was really easy to follow the route. There is one part with poor internet coverage on the route, so also download the PDF before you start the hike.
There were almost no paved roads, but really nice and green paths through bushes and woods. Be careful when it has rained, because it can be slippery sometimes. You can see that someone maintains the paths.
Really nice views at the top of Le Mont de Douville and a little chapel.
I really liked the paths with the bushes creating long tunnels you have to walk through.
It took me 2 hours and 45 minutes to finish the hike.

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eterlou05
eterlou05
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

There are many small tarmac roads and few footpaths.
The hike is fairly well signposted, but you still need to pay attention.
Mont Doville, the highest point with an orientation table, is also accessible by car!
At one point, the hike runs alongside the peat bog of the Sangsurière and Adriennerie National Nature Reserve, which is the main attraction of the hike... but with few birds visible at the end of May, it is better to visit the pond at Maison du Parc, 3 Village des Ponts Douve, 50500 Carentan les Marais.... More wildlife to be seen.

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